Category Archives: Opinion

Sex Crimes Affecting Area Schools Shock Valley

No one wants to read the following in their local paper:handcuffs

A private school in Sun Valley and a public school in Hailey have suffered taints to their reputation within the past few weeks by allegatinos of sex crimes committed by two separate men against the same 13-year-old boy.

And yet, that is exactly what Wood River area residents are reading in today’s issue of The Weekly Sun. Charges have been filed against a former teacher at The Community School in Sun Valley and a former lover of the Alturas Elementary School principal. Both the Blaine County School District and the Sheriff’s office have stated the school principal is not a suspect in the ongoing investigation. Area newspapers have published the following articles:

Local Schools Affected By Sex Crimes

Rape suspect still in custody at jail

Man charged with rape of 13-year-old boy

Sun Valley teacher charged with sexual abuse

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Barber fails to recognize new leadership era for BCSD

The many changes in governing positions have ushered in a new leadership era for Blaine County School District. Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Steve Guthrie, was voted out May 2013. Vice-Chair, Don Nurge, resigned soon thereafter. Former Superintendent, Lonnie Barber, signed a Separation Agreement in September 2013—the Trustees sited “differences in leadership style.” Guthrie’s successor as Chairman, Paul Bates, resigned last week because minors had been drinking alcohol in his home on New Year’s Eve.

Our current Board of Trustees demonstrated decisive action when responding to the recent social hosting event at former Chairman Paul Bates’ home. Continue reading

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Webcast of BCSD January Board Meeting

There have been some comments in the Mt. Express and here regarding the public comment portion of the BCSD January meeting. For those interested, the webcast has been posted to the BlaineSchools.org website. The time in the meeting of the comments are as follows:

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School Violence in the News

US school violence is once again making international news this week. The first incident happened on Monday, October 21st in Sparks, NV. A twelve-year-old boy brought a gun to school. When he was done firing, two fellow students were critically injured, a teacher was dead and the perpetrator had taken his own life: Sparks Middle School shooting: Shooter’s motive remains a mystery | Reno Gazette-Journal | rgj.com. Continue reading

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Nightmare in Maryville: Teens’ sexual encounter ignites a firestorm against family – KansasCity.com

Whole towns know how to bully. MARYVILLE, Mo. gives new meaning to “adding insult to injury.”

Nightmare in Maryville: Teens’ sexual encounter ignites a firestorm against family – KansasCity.com.

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